Stella Reneé Shaffer

What an adventure our family has been on.  It has been a very long 8 months for sure.  I have definitely learned amazing things from God in this time of being patient.  He has stripped me down to where I was able to only be dependent upon Him, and that is what I needed.

God has blessed us beyond our imaginations.  I need to be honest here.  I really was praying that God would bring a little girl into our family, but with not knowing the sex of the baby, I was having to talk myself into being perfectly fine with another baby boy.  It was hard to do, but I was able to convince myself that either sex would be great.  Truly, as long as my baby was healthy, I knew that God had a plan.  

Fast forward to one of the greatest mornings I have ever had.  At 11:00pm on the 15th of April I went into labor and had to get to the hospital ASAP.  I was scheduled to have another cesarian section and not go into labor, but things weren't going the way I thought they should.  After having labor contractions for about 3 hours, I was taken into surgery.  The spinal was done and the contractions were gone, I was at peace.  I love my doctor.  He was so sweet and knew I had been in tons of pain, so he was able to still make me laugh through it all.  There were only about 4 people in the room and I'm not even sure there was anyone else in the hospital.  At least that's how quiet it was.  As I was laying there waiting for our baby to be brought out, a peace came over me.  I was having a great time because all these 8 months would be behind me and I would be able to be a good mom again.  I was excited. 

Then it happened.  Dr. Maxey looked at Robby and said "I want you to tell her what it is!"  Then Robby said "it's a girl, baby!"  I think he choked up, and I got tears in my eyes and said "What?  Is it really a girl?  Really?  A girl?  I can't believe it!"  I was so overwhelmed.  A beautiful baby girl.  My heart raced!  I couldn't wait to see her!  When they showed her to me I just was so full of joy that I didn't even cry!  I was too excited!  I am so thankful that God has blessed our family with a beautiful and very healthy baby girl, Stella.  I am amazed by how healthy she is. No NICU.  The pediatrician even said "We aren't even treating her like a premie because of how healthy she is."  I couldn't ask for more.  Then, there was Levi holding his baby sister for the first time.  I have told many of my friends how that moment is really the happiest moment of my life.  Seeing my grown up baby boy hold his baby sister and be the proudest big brother in the world.  He loves her so much.  He is always asking to hold her.  He gives her kisses and says he will protect her.  It's amazing.  I am literally on cloud 9 and I hope to never come down.  So without further ado, here is our newest addition....

Stella Reneé

Her she is again!

Levi holding her for the first time!

Our first day together!

Sweet Heart!

Roomtime Turned Snoozetime

So this was funny to me.  I told Levi today that he could either have Roomtime in his bedroom, or he could nap in his room.  I just needed to rest, and needed him to have some time to himself.  So he said he wanted to have roomtime.  I would have chosen that too if I were him. So he went in his room and I laid down with the monitor on.  He was having a ball.  Laughing and talking to himself.  Playing with who knows what and talking to either himself or not sure who-else.  Then about 30 minutes into roomtime, I didn't hear anything.  I waited for about 15 minutes and then started to get a little nervous.  So I went upstairs very quietly.  I thought maybe he had actually fallen asleep.  Sure enough, I walked in and he was on the other side of his bed, by the wall, passed out snoring.  I couldn't believe it.  I guess he was seriously tired.  So an hour later I went in and snapped some pictures.  I knew it would wake him up, so I was ready for him to wake.  So here are the pictures of him passed out, light on, in the corner of the room.  Too funny.

asleep in the corner

he piled his "babies" and his blanket for a pillow

starting to wake up because of the camera

well, hello there!

I love this face.  So precious!

Is it almost over?

I have been contemplating recently about what God is teaching me in this pregnancy, and I am having a hard time figuring it out.  You see, at the beginning I was exhausted and so nauseous.  I couldn't wait for the first 12 weeks to be over.  They ended and I felt like a new woman, but not for long.  Since January I have been fighting desperately with my immune system.  I am usually an extremely healthy person.  I really don't get sick much at all.  However, since January, I have had 5 sinus infections, and just recently got the Flu.  I mean really?  It has been one of the hardest times in my life for sure.  I am now past the fever part of the Flu, but have absolutely no energy at all.  

So that leaves me to wondering what I am supposed to see in all this.  At this point I feel like I will never feel human again.  I think there was a point in my life when I had lots of energy and got a lot of things done.  Not right now, though.  I mean what am I going to do when I have a newborn and I haven't been able to rest before that sweet baby comes?  Well, i am just thinking that I am going to finally do life with God's strength and not my own.  That is my prayer now.  It should always be my prayer, but I am always in my own way.  So I am here now, in need of a strength that my earthly body has no way of providing.  

So my heavenly Father will be my strength.  I am believing God for a miracle of health before and after this baby comes.  I know he can heal me, and I am believing it!  

The Grammy's 2009

There are a few things that we get to do with the band that are exciting, and I have to say...the Grammy's are one of them.  We went a couple of years ago when the guys were nominated and had a blast.  This year the guys were nominated for their song "You Reign" and Bart was also nominated for his "Hymned Again"record.  All I can say is that we are just so proud of them just for being nominated.  We waited with baited breathe to see if they had won, and once again it was a no.  Nevertheless, we had a great time.  Robby and I were both sick, and all of us were so tired, but we really enjoyed all being together and just having a good time!  Maybe someday they will win a Grammy, not sure, but it was a fun trip for sure.

The guys looking awesome!

The Whole Family

Just the girls.

Me and my honey!

Bart and Shannon

Kelly and Lacy Feezel

Mike and Abby

Nathan and Amanda

Me and Rob again

The girls in the "VIP" room at a party the night before.  We left after 5 minutes and went to bed!

At P.F. Changs for dinner the night before

The whole gang!

(For some reason I didn't get a picture of Jim and Misti by themselves, sorry guys!)

Colorado Bliss

I can't believe how much snow there is here in Pagosa Springs this time.  This is a yearly trip that we take to this beautiful little town.  It has been snowing since we got here and hasn't let up yet.  It is breathtaking!  We usually bring family and/or friends with us.  This year we have our friends Jenny and Ryan Simmons with us.  I am usually able to Snowboard with Robby, but as I am 21 weeks pregnant and Jenny is 24 weeks pregnant, that isn't happening this time.  So Ryan and Robby are Snowboarding while Jenny, Levi, and I are enjoying the snow and condo!  The hot chocolate is flowing and I think we have just been eating all day long.  They might have to roll me to the car when we get ready to leave.  

So here are a few pictures of our trip so far.  I just don't want to get behind with the New Year, so enjoy them now, while we are still in the Snow!!!!  I will probably have more in a couple of days to stay tuned!

The Family enjoying the Snow!

Jenny and Ryan

He loves throwing Snowballs

Mommy and Levi walking together!

He loves to eat the snow too!

Just wanted to pose for us.

I think he would sleep in the Snow if he could!

Mommy, Jenny, and Levi when we first got out in it!

Thanksgiving

Here are just a few pictures from our Thanksgiving in Branson, Mo.  We went to Silver Dollar City with Robby's parents, Stan and Pat.  Or as Levi affectionately calls them, MawMaw and PawPaw.  We had a great time, although it was really cold on one of the days we were there.  It really has become a tradition to go there for Thanksgiving.  Levi really loves the big ball area where he can play in the balls and shoot them into the air.  I, or course, really love the food there!  Oh and the Hot Chocolate!

We pray that this holiday season you remember the importance of why we celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas.  We are so thankful for Family and Friends, but most of all Christ.  For without Him, it would all be meaningless!  Love to you all!

Levi playing his Mexican guitar

He really loves his Christmas lights and always wants to turn them on!

He wanted to wear MawMaw's socks for some reason.

MawMaw and Levi laughing as we wait for the Train.

Levi and MawMaw

Laying on the balls, he couldn't really get up.

Putting the balls into the vacuums.  So cool!

One of my favorite pictures daddy took!

So funny, he was desperately trying to get more balls out!

Just couldn't get them out!

Another one of my favorite pictures!

MawMaw, PawPaw, and Levi

Mommy, Daddy, and Levi.  Our Christmas Card!

God's Unconditional Love

I had a really bad day last Saturday.  I had no sleep the night before because I slept with Levi at my sister-in-laws house and he moves like crazy.  The kind of sleep where every five minutes he would move and breathe heavy.  His legs were in my back at one point.  I am a seriously light sleeper so I got no sleep at all.  I am not so sure that Levi slept that well either because he would occasionally sit up and just look at me.  The room I was in was freezing as well and my feet never got warm.

During the day I was so tired and Levi wasn't listening to me at all.  All I could think was "please just obey me for once you ungrateful child."  In the evening, we were home but we still had about 4 hours to go until bedtime for Levi and I was at the end of my rope with him.  He kept throwing fits and was still not obeying me.  I had to discipline him several times, and then I snapped.  I yelled at him and scared him.  I was so in the wrong.  I had lost it completely and taken it out on a 2 year old.  He was just being 2.  I know that he is going to be disobedient, and I am just supposed to direct him and bring him up in the ways of Christ.  My flesh just completely took over.

That night as I tucked him in the bed, all I could do was ask him for forgiveness.  I told him that when mommy raised her voice at him she was wrong to do that.  He said he forgave me as well as he could and hugged me and gave me a big kiss.

The next morning when I went in his room to get him up and ready for church, and all I heard when I opened the door was "MOMMY!!!!  Hi mommy!!!"  He had completely forgotten about the day before.  He didn't even remember the incident.  I couldn't believe it.  He still loved me, despite how wrong I had treated him.  I was so thankful that he had really forgotten.  During church there was amazing worship and I was trying to sing a song that I had sung a ton of times and I couldn't get it out without balling.  It was the song "Inside Out" and the first line is

"A thousand times I've failed, yet your mercy remains"

I couldn't sing it.  My son had shown me God.  God was talking to me through my 2 year old.  All I could hear Him saying was that He loved me.  After all the mistakes I make, He forgives me when I come to Him and talk about it and ask.  My son had shown me the unconditional love that God has for me.  All the times that I mess up and my flesh takes over, He is there.  His mercy remains.  I am so thankful.

I constantly struggle with my temper and suppressing it.  I am far from a perfect mother, but I am doing the best I can and learning from my mistakes.  I do know that I love my son so much and never want to hurt him.  What a lesson this has been.